Crash Course Philosophy: Meaning of Life and Existentialism

Introduction

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• Questions posed: What gives life meaning? Possible answers: God, love, money, work, etc.
• Importance of finding meaning in life.

Essentialism

• Ancient Greece Philosophers: Plato and Aristotle.
  • Essence: Core properties necessary for something to be what it is.
  • Example: A blade is essential for a knife.
  • Human Essence: Believed to exist before birth; gives purpose.
• Essentialism: Belief in predetermined essence and purpose.
  • Standard view until late 19th century.

Challenge to Essentialism

• Friedrich Nietzsche: Embraced nihilism, meaninglessness of life.
• Jean-Paul Sartre: Proposed existentialism.
  • Existentialism: Existence precedes essence.
  • Born without a predetermined purpose; we create our own essence.

Existentialism

• Freedom and Choice:
  • No predetermined path; must create our own moral code.
  • We are "condemned to be free."
• Authentic Living:
  • Accepting freedom and creating personal meaning.
  • Avoiding "bad faith," which is living by imposed values/meanings.

The Absurd

• Absurdity: Search for meaning in a meaningless world.
  • Lack of cosmic justice, order, or absolutes.

Existentialism through Historical Context

• Post-World War II: Rise of existentialism due to disillusionment.
• Example: Sartre's anecdote of a student choosing between going to war or staying with his mother.

Existentialism’s Perspective

• Personal Meaning:
  • Life has meaning only if you choose to assign it.
  • Reject external standards dictated by society or authority.
  • Offers a sense of empowerment to define personal and collective values.

Conclusion

• Essentialism vs. Existentialism discussed.
• Understanding how existentialism offers a means to find meaning in a potentially meaningless world.

Additional Information

• Episode sponsored by Squarespace, providing website creation services.
• Produced with PBS Digital Studios and filmed in Crash Course studio.